Detroit Tigers: Three Ideal, Hypothetical J.D. Martinez Trades

Detroit Tigers Acquire: Joe Ross, Trevor Gott, Joan Baez and Ben Revere
Washington Nationals Acquire: J.D. Martinez and Mark Lowe

This deal probably isn’t going to happen if the Nats acquire Andrew McCutchen. However, the move makes sense for a Washington team looking to win now.

In the proposed deal, Trea Turner would shift from center field to shortstop while Bryce Harper moves to center field. Martinez would then slot in as the team’s right fielder.

Breaking Down the Trade

Just as with the proposed Houston deal, this hypothetical transaction revolves around one key centerpiece. This time, it is starting pitcher Joe Ross.

The younger brother of San Diego’s Tyson Ross, Joe is just 23 and has an extremely promising future ahead of him.

In 181.2 Major League innings split over the last two seasons, the right-hander owns a 3.52 ERA, a 3.46 FIP, a 3.76 xFIP and a 3.89 SIERA. Ross has struck out 8.03 batters per nine innings while posting an 11.4 swinging strike percentage.

Adding him to a rotation that already features Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd sets Detroit up nicely for the future.

Gott

Joining Ross in the hypothetical trade is Gott, who owns a 2.85 ERA in 53.2 innings of work as a reliever. While he made just six appearances for Washington last season, the 24-year-old did compile a 3.02 ERA in 47.2 innings of work for Anaheim in 2015.

He’d likely fill a similar bullpen role to that of Blaine Hardy or Kyle Ryan in the sense that he would come in to pitch during the sixth or seventh inning of games.

Both Ross and Gott are controllable through 2021 and aren’t arbitration eligible until after the 2018 season.

Baez

Joan Baez is still a ways off from contributing at the Major League level, but he has intriguing upside. A starter at Single-A, Baez used his blazing fastball and a solid curveball to post a 3.94 ERA and 199 strikeouts in 125.2 innings pitched.

Whether the 21-year-old ends up as a starter or a reliever, he has the potential to make an impact at the Major League level.

Revere and Lowe

With Mark Melancon currently on the free agent market, the Nationals could use some added relief depth. While Lowe isn’t exactly a closer, his presence could allow another of Dusty Baker’s relief pitchers to potentially step into a closing role.

Additionally, the Detroit Tigers may end up needing a center fielder to man the position JaCoby Jones continues to develop.

Revere, who has one year left on his contract, could fit the bill. The former Phillies player led the league in hits in 2014, and compiled a .303 batting average from 2012 to 2015.

However, similar to Lowe, Revere struggled in new surroundings last season.

The veteran batted .217 with a .260 on-base percentage—not to mention a paltry 47 wRC+.

Next: Who Should Start in CF for the Tigers?

A trade sending Martinez to Washington for Ross, Gott and Baez could work for both sides. However, the addition of two change-of-scenery candidates in Revere and Lowe could benefit both parties.